CBI dismantles 2 fake call centres cheating UK nationals with non-existent insurance policies
New Delhi, Sep 14 (PTI): The CBI has dismantled two illegal call centres in Nashik which were allegedly cheating UK nationals taking payments for non-existent insurance policies by posing as agents and government officers, officials said Sunday.
The central agency has arrested Ganesh and Shyam Kamankar for their alleged involvement in the operations of the illegal call centre, Swagan Business Solutions Pvt. Ltd, they said.
A case was registered against four private persons, unknown public servants, and others, on allegations that they cheated UK nationals by posing as insurance agents and government authorities, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
Findings from documents collected during the searches show that the call centres had 60 staffers, used Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, spoofed phone numbers, and forged documents to trick individuals into disclosing their credit and debit card details, officials said.
The victims were allegedly coerced into making payments for insurance policies that did not exist. The proceeds of the alleged fraud were funnelled through PayPal and traditional banking channels, they said.
"Searches were conducted by CBI at various places in Nashik, Kalyan (Thane), which led to the recovery of incriminating digital evidence, including data od victims, fake insurance policy scripts, eight mobile phones, eight computer systems and servers, and unexplained cash of Rs 5 lakhs," the spokesperson said.
The accused were sent to CBI custody till Monday.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
